1. Don't use tobacco Using any type of tobacco puts you on a collision course with cancer. Smoking has been linked to various types of cancer — including cancer of the lung, bladder, cervix and kidney — and chewing tobacco has been linked to cancer of the oral cavity and pancreas. Even if you don't use tobacco, exposure to secondhand smoke may increase your risk of lung cancer.

Avoiding tobacco — or deciding to stop using it — is one of the most important health decisions you can make. It's also an important part of cancer prevention. If you need help quitting tobacco, ask your doctor about stop-smoking products and other strategies for quitting.

2. Eat a healthy diet Although making healthy selections at the grocery store and at mealtime can't guarantee cancer prevention, it may help reduce your risk. Consider these guidelines:

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Base your diet on fruits, vegetables and other foods from plant sources — such as whole grains and beans.

Limit fat. Eat lighter and leaner by choosing fewer high-fat foods, particularly those from animal sources. High-fat diets tend to be higher in calories and may increase the risk of overweight or obesity — which can, in turn, increase cancer risk.

If you choose to drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. The risk of various types of cancer — including cancer of the breast, colon, lung, kidney and liver — increases with the amount of alcohol you drink and the length of time you've been drinking regularly.

3. Maintain a healthy weight and include physical activity in your daily routine Maintaining a healthy weight may lower the risk of various types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, colon and kidney. Physical activity counts, too. In addition to helping you control your weight, physical activity on its own may lower the risk of breast cancer and colon cancer.

As a general goal, include at least 30 minutes of physical activity in your daily routine — and if you can do more, even better. Try a fitness class, rediscover a favorite sport or meet a friend for daily brisk walks.

4. Protect yourself from the sun Skin cancer is one of the most common kinds of cancer — and one of the most preventable. Try these tips:

Avoid midday sun. Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.

Stay in the shade. When you're outdoors, stay in the shade as much as possible. Sunglasses and a broad-rimmed hat help, too.

Cover exposed areas. Wear tightly woven, loosefitting clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible. Opt for bright or dark colors, which reflect more ultraviolet radiation than pastels or bleached cotton.

Don't skimp on sunscreen. Use generous amounts of sunscreen when you're outdoors, and reapply often.

Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps. These are just as damaging as natural sunlight.

Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B can increase the risk of developing liver cancer. The hepatitis B vaccine is routinely given to infants. It's also recommended for certain high-risk adults — such as adults who are sexually active but not in a mutually monogamous relationship, men who have sex with men, and health care or public safety workers who might be exposed to infected blood or body fluids.

Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can lead to cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine is available to both men and women age 26 or younger who didn't have the vaccine as an adolescent.

6. Avoid risky behaviors Another effective cancer prevention tactic is to avoid risky behaviors that can lead to infections that, in turn, may increase the risk of cancer. For example:

Practice safe sex. Limit your number of sexual partners, and use a condom when you do have sex.The more sexual partners you have in your lifetime, the more likely you are to contract a sexually transmitted infection — such as HIV or HPV. People who have HIV or AIDS have a higher risk of cancer of the anus, cervix, lung and immune system. HPV is most often associated with cervical cancer, but it may also increase the risk of cancer of the anus, penis, throat, vulva and vagina.

Don't share needles. Sharing needles with an infected drug user can lead to HIV, as well as hepatitis B and hepatitis C — which can increase the risk of liver cancer. If you're concerned about drug abuse or addiction, seek professional help.

7. Take early detection seriously Regular self-exams and professional screening for various types of cancers — such as cancer of the skin, colon, prostate, cervix and breast — can increase your chances of discovering cancer early, when treatment is most likely to be successful. Ask your doctor about the best cancer screening schedule for you.

Take cancer prevention into your own hands, starting today. The rewards will last a lifetime.

It is estimated that a third of Americans over the age of 65 suffer one fall per year; two-thirds of those will fall again within six months. Falling can cause serious injury (such as broken bones) and may significantly damage self-confidence.

The good news is that there are simple steps you can take to help prevent dangerous falls in your home:

Install safety devices, including grab bars in the bathroom.

Eliminate or reposition items that are potential hazards such as throw rugs, floor clutter, and exposed wires.

Recover or replace slippery floor surfaces with materials that allow good traction.

Try to have a landline phone that's accessible from the floor in case you do fall and cannot get back on your feet.

If you have a companion animal, train it to stay away from your feet as you walk.

In addition, you can help to prevent falls by remaining physically active. Simple daily exercise will help improve and maintain muscle and bone strength; while practicing balance and coordination disciplines such as tai chi and yoga will help prevent falls. Also, be aware of any medicines that may affect your balance and seek appropriate alternatives. In addition, there is a substantial amount of research suggesting that maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D may help prevent falls, perhaps through improving muscle strength.source: Dr. Weil

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:20).

As Christians, we must take care of our bodies in such a way that we are physically prepared to do whatever God asks of us, whenever He asks it. Honoring the body means making a commitment to live a healthier lifestyle by carefully considering the foods you put into your body, making exercise a regular part of your life, and getting enough sleep.

Gluttony is a Sin

The Bible condemns overindulgence in many things, including food. Proverbs 23:20-21 says: Don't associate with those who drink too much wine, or with those who gorge themselves on meat. For the drunkard and the glutton will become poor, and grogginess will clothe them in rags.

Obesity Destroys the Temple of God

Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own (1 Corinthians 6:19).

As obesity rates rise in the U.S., so do rates of diseases associated with obesity. In a press release by the CDC, director Jeffrey P. Koplan said, "Overweight and physical inactivity account for more than three hundred thousand premature deaths each year in the U.S., second only to tobacco-related deaths. Obesity," he continued, "is an epidemic and should be taken as seriously as any infectious disease epidemic. Obesity and overweight are linked to the nation's number one killer — heart disease — as well as diabetes and other chronic conditions."

Overeating Indicates Walking in the Flesh Rather Than the Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).

Christians may fear placing too much emphasis on the physical at the expense of the spiritual, but neglecting the body can be just as wrong. When we are unable to control our eating habits, we lack the self-control that is the fruit of the spirit. Balance is the key. Without taking care of the physical body, we are unable to concern ourselves with the spiritual.

A Well-Disciplined Life Honors God

The story of Daniel demonstrates a person willing to sacrifice physical pleasure to honor the Lord. When King Nebuchadnezzar brought Daniel and several other young men to him: The king assigned them daily provisions from the royal food and from the wine that he drank (Daniel 1:5). However, Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king's food or with the wine he drank (v. 8). Daniel requested, Then examine our appearance and the appearance of the young men who are eating the king's food, and deal with your servants based on what you see. He agreed with them in this matter and tested them for ten days (v. 13-14).

At the end of 10 days they looked better and healthier than all the young men who were eating the king's food. So the guard continued to remove their food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables. God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. Daniel also understood visions and dreams of every kind (v. 15-17).

The Church's Response

Changing our eating and exercise habits isn't easy, but with the help of God, it can be done. First John 5:14-15 says: Now this is the confidence we have before Him: whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for.

What can the church do?

First, ministers need to look at themselves and determine if the change needs to start with them.

Next, they must speak up and encourage their church members to have discipline in all areas of their lives.

Because the Bible addresses eating, indulgence, self control, self discipline, gluttony, and other related sins, we need to be able to address this topic in our churches without fear of offense.

Congregations are blessed when their pastor encourages them to make changes in their lifestyles that will ultimately bring glory to God.

1. Don't use tobacco Using any type of tobacco puts you on a collision course with cancer. Smoking has been linked to various types of cancer — including cancer of the lung, bladder, cervix and kidney — and chewing tobacco has been linked to cancer of the oral cavity and pancreas. Even if you don't use tobacco, exposure to secondhand smoke may increase your risk of lung cancer.

Avoiding tobacco — or deciding to stop using it — is one of the most important health decisions you can make. It's also an important part of cancer prevention. If you need help quitting tobacco, ask your doctor about stop-smoking products and other strategies for quitting.

2. Eat a healthy diet Although making healthy selections at the grocery store and at mealtime can't guarantee cancer prevention, it may help reduce your risk. Consider these guidelines:

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Base your diet on fruits, vegetables and other foods from plant sources — such as whole grains and beans.

Limit fat. Eat lighter and leaner by choosing fewer high-fat foods, particularly those from animal sources. High-fat diets tend to be higher in calories and may increase the risk of overweight or obesity — which can, in turn, increase cancer risk.

If you choose to drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. The risk of various types of cancer — including cancer of the breast, colon, lung, kidney and liver — increases with the amount of alcohol you drink and the length of time you've been drinking regularly.

3. Maintain a healthy weight and include physical activity in your daily routine Maintaining a healthy weight may lower the risk of various types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, colon and kidney. Physical activity counts, too. In addition to helping you control your weight, physical activity on its own may lower the risk of breast cancer and colon cancer.

As a general goal, include at least 30 minutes of physical activity in your daily routine — and if you can do more, even better. Try a fitness class, rediscover a favorite sport or meet a friend for daily brisk walks.

4. Protect yourself from the sun Skin cancer is one of the most common kinds of cancer — and one of the most preventable. Try these tips:

Avoid midday sun. Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.

Stay in the shade. When you're outdoors, stay in the shade as much as possible. Sunglasses and a broad-rimmed hat help, too.

Cover exposed areas. Wear tightly woven, loosefitting clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible. Opt for bright or dark colors, which reflect more ultraviolet radiation than pastels or bleached cotton.

Don't skimp on sunscreen. Use generous amounts of sunscreen when you're outdoors, and reapply often.

Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps. These are just as damaging as natural sunlight.

Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B can increase the risk of developing liver cancer. The hepatitis B vaccine is routinely given to infants. It's also recommended for certain high-risk adults — such as adults who are sexually active but not in a mutually monogamous relationship, men who have sex with men, and health care or public safety workers who might be exposed to infected blood or body fluids.

Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can lead to cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine is available to both men and women age 26 or younger who didn't have the vaccine as an adolescent.

6. Avoid risky behaviors Another effective cancer prevention tactic is to avoid risky behaviors that can lead to infections that, in turn, may increase the risk of cancer. For example:

Practice safe sex. Limit your number of sexual partners, and use a condom when you do have sex.The more sexual partners you have in your lifetime, the more likely you are to contract a sexually transmitted infection — such as HIV or HPV. People who have HIV or AIDS have a higher risk of cancer of the anus, cervix, lung and immune system. HPV is most often associated with cervical cancer, but it may also increase the risk of cancer of the anus, penis, throat, vulva and vagina.

Don't share needles. Sharing needles with an infected drug user can lead to HIV, as well as hepatitis B and hepatitis C — which can increase the risk of liver cancer. If you're concerned about drug abuse or addiction, seek professional help.

7. Take early detection seriously Regular self-exams and professional screening for various types of cancers — such as cancer of the skin, colon, prostate, cervix and breast — can increase your chances of discovering cancer early, when treatment is most likely to be successful. Ask your doctor about the best cancer screening schedule for you.

Take cancer prevention into your own hands, starting today. The rewards will last a lifetime. Weight Loss Coaching with Natasha BrownSource: www.mayoclinic.com

The Beet is usually not included in the list of favorite foods by most people. But if you seek better health then you need to make one exception, beet. The health benefits of beets help improve the energy levels as it is an excellent source of iron. Beets help in making the immune system strong and safeguard against cancerous growths. Once you are aware about all the health benefits of beets, then I am very sure that you will not mind having this red vegetable. Plus, you can have beet raw in the form of salad, no cooking required.

The health benefits of beets are:

One of the most amazing health benefits of beets is that it has no trans-fats and no saturated fats. Hard to believe, but true! It is extremely low in calories as well. Hence, it fills your stomach and its slight sweet taste satiates your sweet tooth also. This food helps in reducing the sugar craving and benefits your health in many ways.

Easy to eat: Beets can be purchased from the market and stored for days in the refrigerator. Simply, slice couple of beets and store them in the refrigerator. Every time you feel hungry or feel the need to munch something, have the beets you saved earlier. No cooking required and cold beets taste good as well.

Beets are rich in carbohydrates and it is great way to quickly energize your body. Other processed foods are also high in carbohydrates but they are a poor source of energy. Beets are more or less like an energy food or fuel for the body.

Beet is a great source of mineralsas they are rich in sodium, calcium, phosphorous, iron as well as magnesium. Beets also have dietary fiber in it. It also contains noticeable amounts of niacin, Vitamin C as well as Vitamin A.

Beets have folic acid in it. Folic acid is important for the proper growth of new cells. Folic acid is required for the health of pregnant women and someone who requires physical healing. Many people take supplements that have folic acid in it, however, taking the health benefits of beets everyday will fulfill your folic acid need that too in a natural way. Yes, at times taking supplements is essential for health, however, if you can have something natural and avoid that supplement will be good for your health.

Research has indicated that the health benefits of beets are helpful in preventing several kinds of cancer, mainly colon cancer.

Research has also indicated that having beets everyday helps in protecting the body from many heart problems.

Beets are available in all the seasons. So whenever you want to have them you can get it from the grocery store. You do not have to wait for one full season for fresh produce before you can take the health benefits of beets.

You can have beets in the raw form as well as boiled, steamed or sautéed forms. You can also have the juice of fresh beets. However the juice of beet has a very strong taste and may not be like by all, but beet juice is an excellent health tonic. You can mix beet juice with carrot juice and apple juice to reduce the strong taste.

It's the most important molecule you need to stay healthy and prevent disease -- yet you've probably never heard of it. It's the secret to prevent aging, cancer, heart disease, dementia and more, and necessary to treat everything from autism to Alzheimer's disease. There are more than 89,000 medical articles about it -- but your doctor doesn't know how address the epidemic deficiency of this critical life-giving molecule ...

What is it? I'm talking about the mother of all antioxidants, the master detoxifier and maestro of the immune system: GLUTATHIONE (pronounced "gloota-thigh-own").

The good news is that your body produces its own glutathione. The bad news is that poor diet, pollution, toxins, medications, stress, trauma, aging, infections and radiation all deplete your glutathione.

This leaves you susceptible to unrestrained cell disintegration from oxidative stress, free radicals, infections and cancer. And your liver gets overloaded and damaged, making it unable to do its job of detoxification.

In treating chronically ill patients with Functional Medicine for more than 10 years, I have discovered that glutathione deficiency is found in nearly all very ill patients. These include people with chronic fatigue syndrome, heart disease, cancer, chronic infections, autoimmune disease, diabetes, autism, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, arthritis, asthma, kidney problems, liver disease and more.

At first I thought that this was just a coincidental finding, but over the years I have come to realize that our ability to produce and maintain a high level of glutathione is critical to recovery from nearly all chronic illness -- and to preventing disease and maintaining optimal health and performance. The authors of those 76,000 medical articles on glutathione I mentioned earlier have found the same thing!

So in today's blog I want to explain what glutathione is, why it's important and give you 9 tips that will help you optimize your glutathione levels, improve your detoxification system and protect help yourself from chronic illness.

What is Glutathione?

Glutathione is a very simple molecule that is produced naturally all the time in your body. It is a combination of three simple building blocks of protein or amino acids -- cysteine, glycine and glutamine.

The secret of its power is the sulfur (SH) chemical groups it contains. Sulfur is a sticky, smelly molecule. It acts like fly paper and all the bad things in the body stick onto it, including free radicals and toxins like mercury and other heavy metals.

Normally glutathione is recycled in the body -- except when the toxic load becomes too great. And that explains why we are in such trouble ...

In my practice, I test the genes involved in glutathione metabolism. These are the genes involved in producing enzymes that allow the body to create and recycle glutathione in the body. These genes have many names, such as GSTM1, GSTP1 and more.

These genes impaired in some people for a variety of important reasons. We humans evolved in a time before the 80,000 toxic industrial chemicals found in our environment today were introduced into our world, before electromagnetic radiation was everywhere and before we polluted our skies, lakes, rivers, oceans and teeth with mercury and lead.

That is why most people survived with the basic version of the genetic detoxification software encoded in our DNA, which is mediocre at ridding the body of toxins. At the time humans evolved we just didn't need more. Who knew we would be poisoning ourselves and eating a processed, nutrient-depleted diet thousands of years later?

Because most of us didn't require additional detoxification software, almost of half of the population now has a limited capacity to get rid of toxins. These people are missing GSTM1 function -- one of the most important genes needed in the process of creating and recycling glutathione in the body.

Nearly all my very sick patients are missing this function. The one-third of our population that suffers from chronic disease is missing this essential gene. That includes me. Twenty years ago I became mercury poisoned and suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome due to this very problem. My GSTM1 function was inadequate and I didn't produce enough glutathione as a result. Eventually, my body broke down and I became extremely ill ...

This is the same problem I see in so many of my patients. They are missing this critical gene and they descend into disease as a result. Let me explain how this happens ...

The Importance of Glutathione in Protecting Against Chronic Illness

Glutathione is critical for one simple reason: It recycles antioxidants. You see, dealing with free radicals is like handing off a hot potato. They get passed around from vitamin C to vitamin E to lipoic acid and then finally to glutathione which cools off the free radicals and recycles other antioxidants. After this happens, the body can "reduce" or regenerate another protective glutathione molecule and we are back in business.

However, problems occur when we are overwhelmed with too much oxidative stress or too many toxins. Then the glutathione becomes depleted and we can no longer protect ourselves against free radicals, infections, or cancer and we can't get rid of toxins. This leads to further sickness and soon we are in the downward spiral of chronic illness.

But that's not all. Glutathione is also critical in helping your immune system do its job of fighting infections and preventing cancer. That's why studies show that it can help in the treatment of AIDS.

Glutathione is also the most critical and integral part of your detoxification system. All the toxins stick onto glutathione, which then carries them into the bile and the stool -- and out of your body.

And lastly, it also helps us reach peak mental and physical function. Research has shown that raised glutathione levels decrease muscle damage, reduce recovery time, increase strength and endurance and shift metabolism from fat production to muscle development.

If you are sick or old or are just not in peak shape, you likely have glutathione deficiency. In fact, the top British medical journal, the Lancet, found the highest glutathione levels in healthy young people, lower levels in healthy elderly, lower still in sick elderly and the lowest of all in the hospitalized elderly.

Keeping yourself healthy, boosting your performance, preventing disease and aging well depends on keeping your glutathione levels high. I'll say it again ... Glutathione is so important because it is responsible for keeping so many of the keys to UltraWellness optimized.

It is critical for immune function and controlling inflammation. It is the master detoxifier and the body's main antioxidant, protecting our cells and making our energy metabolism run well.

Lose weightOr if you're at an ideal body weight now, stay there. Extra weight puts a strain on your heart and other crucial body systems; increasing the risk of heart attacks, diabetes, cancer and other diseases that can shorten life, says Robert Butler, director of the International Longevity Center-USA in New York. Most Americans simply eat too much: The experts recommend cutting back on calories, a step that will help trim the waistline and, if drastic enough, might even extend life.

Learn something new Take up ballroom dancing, chess, a language or photography. "Any time you have to work at something new you're probably doing good things for your brain," says Gene Cohen, director of the Center on Aging at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. People who learn new skills or information probably build new brain cells and make connections between existing neurons, he says.

Shape up Research suggests that regular exercise can help prevent or delay a laundry list of diseases, including heart disease, colon cancer, diabetes and even Alzheimer's. The experts say most Americans should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise 5 days a week or more. And it's never too late to start a fitness program, says Richard Hodes, director of the National Institute on Aging. Even seniors who've never been active before can work up to a fitness routine that will help keep them strong for years to come. Walking, swimming, dancing — even gardening and housework — can help people stay in shape, he says.

And here's one area where people can start to turn back the clock: Research shows most people lose 22% of their muscle mass by age 70, a process that leaves them prone to deadly falls. People can reverse that aspect of aging with simple, daily strength exercises.

If you smoke, stop In the USA alone, tobacco-related diseases cause more than 400,000 deaths a year. Yet nearly 50 million Americans still smoke.

Socialize Go to a party, join a movie club, help out at a church picnic. Research suggests that people who build and maintain friendships and family relationships often are healthier and seem to recover from illness faster. Social connections may ward off depression and seem to boost the body's immune system, which helps fight infection.

Reduce stressTake a walk, pray, meditate or have lunch with a friend. Scientists say that people who build stress-busting habits into their daily routine gain a big health benefit. Unhealthy stress puts people at risk of getting sick or developing chronic diseases that can cut life short.

Adopt a can-do attitude Research shows that people who live to be 100 often take an optimistic approach to life's setbacks. Super-agers either are born with a happy-go-lucky personality that helps them through the inevitable stress that life brings or they develop coping mechanisms that help them weather upsets like a death or a divorce.

Eat a healthy dietDiets that include at least 10 servings of fruits and vegetables per day might help prevent age-related damage to cells. Fruits and veggies, the more colorful the better, contain protective substances that might help ward off diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

Most longevity experts recommend cutting down on fatty, salty foods. Go for lean meats, poultry and fish, as well as a wide variety of fresh fruits, veggies and whole grain foods.

Get a good night's sleepNew research shows that sleep deprivation can lead to memory lapses, depression and immune system problems. Scientists say that sleep deprivation may not be a natural part of aging.

Get regular checkupsFind a good doctor and make good health a priority, says Christine Cassel, the president of the American Board of Internal Medicine and an aging expert in Philadelphia. Many diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and others can be treated or even prevented if caught early enough, she says.

The proper dietary wellness is the foundation for having a healthier, happier, fuller life and actually revers disease. If you really care enough about yourself to gain optimum health incorporate these tips into your daily regime: